Thursday, July 30, 2009

Make sure you go check out my 'Reflection' Post picked by Audrey, before you read this 'Outdoor Food' devised by the help of Girlichef...

Busy with family from May to August, work, school and classes starting up, well, I am squeaking by with these photos from my hubby's birthday party this past weekend. Man, was it all good...

Basting the corn on the cob for the grill, along with some bourbon salmon, and orange duck legs...

Cranking up the old fashioned ice cream maker for some...

Exercise? Oh yeah, gotta make hubby work for his indulgences...

Like a nice bowl of Honey Apple Cinnamon Custard/Ice Cream. This will melt quick so we eat it on the patio...

How about some cookies to go with that sweet treat?

...and then the next day when you get up, we will head out and dance it off; while sipping on some wine in the vineyard...

As the Mambo band plays some tunes...

Since Elvis cannot go outside, we bring him in a little 'Outdoor Food', a pot of wheat grass for him to nibble on...

Thanks for stopping by, and I have added a camera pic on the right side of my site you can take that will direct you to our main Friday Shoot Out Team Blog (you add it to your layout if so desired), so go on over and visit the other participants!

Next weeks theme is listed over there as well, and that is another fun creative road for us to travel...

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

In my rear view mirror you can have a peak at my condo development. I live in a nice community that is surrounded by beautiful trees, and away from the main roads here in Princeton, New Jersey...

I went out to some of the local waterways to find a few nice reflections, but we have been plagued with cloudy skies, and rain...no excuses, but it is what it is...in all honesty I am having a hard time getting back into the swing, and writing curriculum for my up coming cooking classes.

What I find strange is these Muscovy ducks are a little further north than you see them, but maybe I just did not realize they are in the area normally. I love the wildlife you see here...

My hubby was raised in New York, so in our former home in Dallas we have a few wall pieces that reflect his love for the city, but this one belongs to a family member...

This piece with its twin towers reminds us to reflect of what once was...

There was a time when pieces of furniture like this were very popular and at some angles you can see many reflections of what is going on in the house...

This photo is cheating, but I took it while on my last trip, and it just turned out so darn cute...

I have added a camera pic on the right side of my site that will direct you to our main Friday Shoot Out Team Blog, so go on over and visit the other participants!

Next weeks theme is 'Outdoor Food', and that is another fun creative road for us to travel...

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Sadly, many people don't. Millions of people take themselves and their lives so seriously that they refuse to recognize the absurdity of much of what they do. Not that everything in life is a laughing matter. But have you ever encountered someone who had a chip on their shoulder?

If you are wondering what in the world this spot on the asphalt have to do with my point, well...a last week I was out shopping for a wine and food tasting I am putting together. I had a really nice day planning some future endeavors with a crew, and then we decided to go into a local area for a light dinner and some good wine.

I however do not indulge in drinking wine like my friends or husband do, but I had a four ounce pour of one of the best burgandy's I have ever had. We also had a sip of a Pinot Noir that I decided would work for the up coming tasting, since the theme is Pinot Noir. I purchased three bottles from their retail room next door, and commented that maybe someone else should carry some of the wine before we take the long walk back to the car. No, I didn't! Yes, I decided to carry it all myself.

Look carefully at the road photo at the top. You should see a faint reddish body outline around the, Yes, I was over that rather large wine spot I left on the road. I tried to put a tape outline around it, but too tricky. Thank goodness Amex will replace them for me since that is what I use for my purchases like this.

I was startled by a car, and a bicycle approaching me as I was about to enter the street, and my foot went into a pot hole in the tar on the edge of the road I was on. This was not a pretty site. Me on top of broken bottles and their contents, my purse and its contents, all spread out in disarray. Everyone was nice, and offered to help me up, but in my humiliation I just sat there soaking up much of the wine in my clothing. Not hurt too badly, just a little sore, and one cut on my hand, but hey life has to go on.

No, I am not embarrassed at all, since accidents do happen. I just did what any good wine connisour would do and that was take myself home and wring out my clothes into a glass and tasted the humor, and the fact I can look back and laugh at myself!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The above gazebo is part of a butterfly garden that my Cultural Art Expression- Open Mic performers will be using tomorrow for an event we will be hosting...

The contrast of colors in Adriennes garden are so peaceful and beautiful...

Sorry, I did not have mine up early today...I took a tumble while shopping for wine yesterday, and am a little sore, but I am fine...the wine I dare say is not!

We have done gardens a few months back, but who could say no to this topic...well, a few of my friends in Texas with its 117 heat index...nothing in the yard, all melted, lol...

I was visiting a good friend in Jersey who's yard is fabulous with its pond, vegetable gardens, and objects dotted about the patio...see her yummy chicory, and leafy lettuce...

I long for my own yard again, so I can these yard objects hanging around!

You know the southern girl and chef in me had to snag a few to cook up for my lunch...can you say 'Fried Green Tomato' Salad...how about just 'Yummy'!

Thank you Adrienne for letting me roam in your yard, and steal those yummy vegetables you worked so hard to grow!

If you want to join us in our fun Friday Shoot Out, all you have to do is look for the theme that will be added later, and at the end of this post, so come back and see what was picked for next week! Go check out some of the other posts below...

Monday, July 13, 2009

No, I did not photo shop this bird and its prey, or in this case its road kill into my rear view mirror...life happens, and I had never seen a vulture up close like this before...

Something we always do not want to deal with in life is death.

Sad, but true (no pun intended, well just a little)...

I notice I do not get a lot of comments when the topic is sad, and I wish people would say what they feel and not what is expected towards bereavement...

Today is the day before a landmark day in my life. Nine years ago tomorrow, my daughter passed away from a fourteen year battle with heart disease. Hard for me to believe it has already been nine years!

No, not a pretty thought. Not a pretty picture either.

She was pretty. She was Anelisa Diane Dillion.

We miss and love you more than I can ever express.

Death, however an ugly part of life, well...it is also a celebration of who we have become...

No man is an island,Entire of itself.Each is a piece of the continent,A part of the main.If a clod be washed away by the sea,Europe is the less.As well as if a promontory were.As well as if a manner of thine ownOr of thine friend's were.Each man's death diminishes me,For I am involved in mankind.Therefore, send not to knowFor whom the bell tolls,It tolls for thee.

These famous words by John Donne were not originally written as a poem - the passage is taken from the 1624 Meditation 17, from Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and is prose. The words of the original passage are as follows:

John DonneMeditation 17Devotions upon Emergent Occasions

"No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were. Any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee..."

Texture can be something that creeps upon us...invisible to the naked eye, and sending chills down our spine...

'Historic Farm'

Sometimes we see it and say "Awww"...and what might come from their texture...

'Coming Soon...'

We might pick up a book to see what lay inside from what we have seen on the outside...

'Delaware River'

We have the opportunity to change texture ahead, and behind...

'July 4th Re-inactment'

Back when we wore way too many textures on hot days...

'Cherry BBQ Glaze'

My job...is playing with texture in many and yummy ways...

'Cherry Oatmeal Cookies'

Crunch crunch crunch, and gooey textures we love so much...

If you want to join us in our fun Friday Shoot Out, all you have to do is look for the theme that will be added later, and at the end of this post, so come back and see what was picked for next week! Go check out some of the other posts below...

On a recent trip out west where my ancestors settled just a few hundred miles south of Fort Worth, Texas; I had the opportunity to take my father's sister, Aunt Earlene on what possibly could be our last journey together. We have always had fun talking and laughing about the fun times she remembers having with her family and my deceased father, her favorite, and only brother! We again begin talk about family I remember, or might not. My quest is to chronicle my genealogy trails...

Once again I share how my dad told stories of the two of them sneaking off to cross county lines. A chance to dance in another seedy joint. A chance to shake a leg together, something they both enjoyed. My grandmother really never cared, as she knew he would watch out for her. He was good looking and great dancer, but he had his wild side. Aunt Earlene always thinks of him in the fondest way, in spite of his rebellious ways. He was her baby brother, but also her protector.

Of all the things he shared with me before he passed, was that he would pack up an old doctors bag with some clothes and tell his mom he was going to visit his grand parents in Mineral Wells. He was only thirteen years old. He would then head out to the River Oaks highway and thumb an hours ride to their house just to the west. Today you would never believe anyone would do that. I sat in awe as he told me how old farm trucks and other vehicles would stop and let him hop in the back as they slowly moved down old highway 180.

When he finally reached my great grandparents road, all he had to do was hop off, say thank you, and walk right across the street to Clarence and Delia Estils property. I bet grandpa and mamaw Estil were sitting right there up on their porch waiting for him. I also bet they had a cool glass of that mineral water they always gave their guest, and some cornbread. My dad had a great fondness for a hot pot of beans, and I remember it waiting for me as well when I was a girl. Hospitality was a good southern trait.

As my aunt and I drove up to the old property in Mineral Wells we could faintly see the old path that still lay blended in with the grass, as if it were still welcoming us.

Someone had bought the land my grandmother could not let go of before she passed. She loved her parents dearly, and often we cannot let go. If you follow the path up to where the old house used to sit...you see that the new owners have planted a garden and left a few of the corner stones. The old owl that once and still protects the fruit trees from smaller birds sits and honors what was. They must have realized how precious the love was that filled that old house.

This part of the country is and always will be a rough way of life in spite of its every growing concrete invasion coming from the east.

Friday, July 3, 2009

Sometimes we celebrate in the kookiest ways...and sometimes we celebrate life in the most loving ways...

Well, I have been (re)celebrating life for the past three weeks! In Texas...

I lost my daughter almost exactly nine years ago, and have been trying to re-define my life the past few years with work changes, and other life altering 'who moved my cheese' experiences.

With new friends here in New Jersey, and new 'old' friends in Texas...I have done some positive re-enforcement in the celebrating life area!

My childhood friend, Cheryl (above), and her twin sister Carol (and hubby Buster) took me out for my 48 birthday...we are showing you that not only our attitudes are big, but what is behind us is not too shabby!

They embarrass you and make you do this chicken dance thing with a hat on, and a beak that is really a water cooler cup... In front of the whole restaurant!

Sorry for the phone camera shots...they teased me for not having that camera at my side like it was during my cooking sessions!

Then another old friend, Danny, and his wife Cathy took me back to Babe's for some more good ole country cooking...and...

I got Cheryl back...BIG TIME!

Can you say...bawk bawk bawk, or is it chirp chirp chirp? LMAO! She was so surprised! Her birthday is in July, and I will not be there to help her celebrate, so an early one was due!

I am glad to be back home, but I sure like the friends I still have, and the ones I have made through Friday Shoot Out, and in the blog world!

Life is good not matter what it throws at ya! Hope ya'll celebrate in the best way!

If you want to join us in our fun Friday Shoot Out, all you have to do is look for the theme that will be added later, and at the end of this post, so come back and see what was picked for next week! Go check out some of the other posts below...

About Me

"I experiment with Flavors"...
Elizabeth Stelling, hails from her home state of Texas and has been involved in the food industry via institutional, fast food, B&B's, ethnic eateries and other restaurants since she was fourteen. Now living n New Jersey she has ran her own cafe, teaches culinary classes, runs a small boutique catering and staffing business, restaurant consulting for NJWBO, is a personal chef and shares her love of cooking with local, organic, healthy, and natural ingredients with the community.
Chef E is a member of Slow Food and the American Wine Society, Princeton, New Jersey. She has published written works of poetry and media pieces, as well as ran Open Mics in the Princeton, NJ area.
www.wine.cookappeal.com- About Us